Originally published in Forbes

In his third Forbes article, Maine Pointe CEO Steve Bowen discusses some of the biggest C-suite challenges, the potential payoff of a successful S&OP plan, and some of the most common points of failure.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the C-suite is achieving an end-to-end demand/supply chain that is fully collaborative, with supply commitments properly balanced against demand. Sales and operations planning (S&OP) initiatives often plateau without any measurable payoff, and the result can be a stagnant culture resistant to change. Despite the challenges, S&OP continues to be a top priority among supply chain executives, and the potential for sustainable and measurable payoff is great.

If sales and operations planning is so important, why do so many initiatives fail?  Read Alfred Baumbusch’s first in a series article in Sales & Marketing Management magazine.

Originally posted in Forbes

Being strategic about your supply chain can improve cash flow, drive shareholder value, and yield greater profits.

Originally published in Chief Executive

Maine Pointe CEO Steve Bowen and GSCI’s Paul Dittmann take on “Why CEOs are still in the dark about the supply chain” in Chief Executive magazine, in an insightful piece  showing a surprising number of top executives don’t have a formal strategy in place for managing supply chain risk. Geopolitical uncertainty and volatile trade relations are adding to the risk profile, making it all the more necessary to have a plan in place. The  article highlights not only the risks, but the solutions – starting with redefining supply chain excellence and identifying best practices.

With the pending March 1 deadline of the trade war "truce" between the US and China, Maine Pointe CEO Steve Bowen said that some companies have made the mistake of backing off of their contingency planning, but preparation is essential . 

Originally Published in Supply Chain Dive

There are opportunities hidden in the current trade uncertainties, economic populism and trade wars. In Kate Vitasek's column for SupplyChainBrain, she notes now is the time for supply chain optimization. Maine Pointe CEO Steve Bowen notes one of the most important factors in this environment is establishing a level of trust – a big challenge given that tariffs, according to Steve, are not conducive to cooperation. To achieve that level of cooperation, Kate suggests supply chain partners have to move away from their traditional transaction-based model that focuses on cost savings, to a model focusing on value creation instead.  

Originally Published in Supply Chain Brain

In the current climate of “economic populism,” tit-for-tat tariffs and the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, which can instigate trade wars and the disruption of global trade deals in Europe and the Pacific rim, buyers, sellers and their supply chains have an opportunity to step up and cope with major challenges through cooperation, transparency and flexibility.

CPG manufacturers need deeper insights into consumer trends, end-to-end collaboration throughout the partner ecosystem, and a TVO approach that benefits all parties. Joe Esteves, VP CPG, reinforces the importance of manufacturers seeing their success only through the eyes of the distributor – a model that disintermediates the manufacturer from the actual end user, which can leave money on the table. 

Originally Published in CPGmatters

CPG manufacturers have traditionally seen their primary role as leading the development and production stages of the supply chain with their “customers" being wholesalers, retailers and distributors. While in many cases the manufacturer provides the retailer or distributor with marketing collateral or general guidance in how to position their products to consumers, it is ultimately those further along the value chain and closer to the consumer who have always been in a better position to understand customer trends.

The 90-day tariff "cease-fire" could bring more uncertainty to an already troubling situation, says Maine Pointe CEO Steve Bowen. During this confusing time tariff engineering doesn't go far enough – stress testing supply chains will be important to analyze cost impacts of the potential tariff scenarios that may emerge.

EVP Procurement Rex Clothier offers commentary on Hasbro's strategy in the post Toys-R-Us world, and how the risks of the retailer's bankruptcy also enabled an opportunity as other retailers stepped up to grab a bigger share of the toy market.